Bob Rawal of Bell Court Packaging
Bob Rawal, 57, contacted PRIME in April 2010 and was sent a free start-up pack. Later that month he went onto apply for a Zopa-PRIME Olderpreneur loan.
Bob decided to start up his own business after being made redundant twice in three years. Up until this point he had spent 35 years in the medical needle packaging industry. A number of those years were spent working for one company as a production director, responsible for 200 employees, overseeing the shop floor operations for packaging. In November 2009 Bob got made redundant for the second time and had to sign on to Jobseekers Allowance. “I got really down and disheartened at this point and felt like I was being treated as a number”.
Not wanting to be out of work for long he joined an agency and took on some temporary assignments. After the agency took its fee he was getting minimum wage (£5.85 per hour). This was not enough to live on. Bob had a small amount of redundancy money which he was using to pay the bills.
Bob decided he was going to start-up a business in an area in which he had over 35 years experience – packaging. His brother gave him some packaging equipment. But he did not have enough money to cover the start-up costs. He knew in the current recession the banks were not likely to lend to him. After searching the internet Bob came across PRIME’s website and immediately requested a free business start-up pack. Within three days the pack arrived in the post and he read all about the Zopa-PRIME Olderpreneur loan and decided to apply. After going through the application process with PRIME’s Loan Manager and providing a strong business plan, Bob got a loan of £3,500 with an interest rate of 8%. He also put what was left of his redundancy money, £1,600, towards starting up.
Bob says “Without the help and guidance of the PRIME Loans Manager I would have found it very difficult to start the business up. She always kept in contact and chased me up on things I needed to do.”
Bob started up Bell Court Packaging Solutions in April 2010. The unique selling point of the business is offering a mobile packaging service where he will go to a company’s premises and pack onsite. Blister packing, skin packing and hand packing are some of the in-house services offered. He also advises clients about the most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly ways to pack their goods.
Bob is continuing to get regular bookings coming in. “It’s hard work but I am really enjoying working for myself.”, he says. “The one piece of advice I would give to someone thinking about starting their own business is to keep your chin up and always take care of your finances”
PRIME’s innovative loan scheme with Zopa is made possible by a generous donation from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Under the scheme ordinary members of the public lend directly to borrowers who have been pre-approved by PRIME and Zopa. To find out more go to our loans page.
Contact
Website: http://www.bellcourtpackaging.co.uk/
Bob Rawal
Bell Court Packaging Solutions
07722920305
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Dear Bob,
I have only discovered this site today as it was recommended by Business link, I am intriguid reading everyones stories as I am in a similar situation myself and recently signed off Jobseekers. I have designed a household product and in the process of discussing the manufacturing side of it, De Montfort Uni are designing my packaging. I will probably be searching for a Company to apply that to my product, we are working on it being a type of card tabbard with a plastic hook, what type of service does your business provide?
I do not have my website up and running yet.
Yours Sincerely,
Sheila.